Improvement in carriage-steps



2 Sheets--Sheet1.

a. A. KE E NE. Carriage-Steps.

Patented Feb. 11,1873.

ATTEST.

INVENTOR.

AM. PHOTO-LITHOGIPAPIIIC ca MY. (oseamvs's PRocss UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enonen A. KEENE, or LYNN, MASSAonuSnrrS.

IMPROVEMENT m CARRIAGE-STEPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,8l5, dated February 11, 1873.

same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which-- Figure l is a side elevation of my device as it appears when in use upon a step. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a like view of the lower side of the step, showing the means employed for attaching the pad to or upon the same. Fig. 4; is avertical Section of said step and pad and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp-fastening.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my-invention is to produce a pad or covering for the tread of a carriagestep, which shall at all times furnish a firm, sure foothold, and be easily attached to or removed from any form of step, to which end it consists, principally, in a pad constructed of or from any suitable elastic material, and provided upon its upper surface with a series of projections, which are separated by means of grooves that extend outward to the edge of said pad and permit water falling thereon to run off, or dirt to be blown or swept away, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists, further, in the means employed for securing the pad to or upon the step, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

In the annexed drawing, A represents the shank, and B the tread, of a carriage-step of the usual construction. Resting upon the tread B is a pad, 0, constructed of or from rubber or other suitable elastic material, and having any desired exterior shape or size within the limits of the edge of said tread. The upper surface of the pad 0 is provided with a series of grooves or valleys, c, which may either ex-' tend in straight intersecting lines across the face of said pad, or may consist of a series of annular concentric grooves intersected by a series of radial grooves, the object sought being, first, to form a series of projections, 0, upon which the foot may securely rest; and, second, to have said groove or valleys extend to the edge of said pad, so as to enable water I falling thereon to pass 011' by the force of gravity, and dirt or dust to be readly blown or swept away.

The pad thus constructed is secured to or upon the tread of the step in the following described manner: A thin plate of metal, D, corresponding in general size and shape to the exterior lines of the pad, is molded into the same, and is provided at suitable points, immediately within its edge, with several openin gs, d, for the reception ofthe clamps E, which clamps are constructed of or from thin metal, and have each upon their ends a hook, e, that embraces the outer edge of said opening d.

When placed in position within or upon the pad G the body of each clamp extends horizontally and radially outward, and when said pad is placed upon the step-tread said clamps are readily turned downward and inward, so as to embrace the edge and lower side of said tread, by which means said parts are firmly united.

' When desired the pad may be readily removed by bending the clamps outward; but, as said clamps are not liable to molestation by use of the step, the accidental displacement of said pad is not probable.

The device thus constructed is readily applied to any style or form of step, and when in use furnishes a bearing for the foot that is not liable to become unsafe by reason of an accu mulation of snow, ice, or dirt upon its surface.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1. The foot-pad 0, provided with the sys tem of grooves o and projections c, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the step-tread B and pad 0, the clamps E, substantially as'and for the purpose shown.

Witnesses: GEORGE A. KEENE. WILLIAM EDsoN,

FRANK G. PARKER.

T. i I 

